Israeli troops withdrew Monday from Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, abandoning our bodies and large destruction on the finish of a two-week raid contained in the enclave’s largest medical facility.
The navy has described the raid as one of the vital profitable of the practically six-month struggle and claimed to have killed not less than 200 members of Palestinian resistance teams.
However, it got here at a time of mounting frustration in Israel, with tens of hundreds protesting towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and demanding he do extra to convey dwelling dozens of hostages held in Gaza. It was the most important anti-government demonstration for the reason that begin of the struggle.
The weeklong preventing confirmed Hamas may nonetheless put up resistance even in one of many hardest-hit areas. Israel had earlier claimed to have largely dismantled Hamas in northern Gaza and withdrew hundreds of troops late final yr, leaving a safety vacuum that has made it troublesome to ship desperately wanted humanitarian support.
The navy stated that amongst these killed have been senior Hamas operatives and different members who allegedly had regrouped there after an earlier raid in November and that it seized weapons and worthwhile intelligence.
The U.N. well being company stated greater than 20 sufferers died and dozens have been put in danger throughout the raid, which introduced even additional destruction to a hospital that had already largely ceased to perform.
Israel accuses Hamas of utilizing hospitals for navy functions with out conclusive proof and has raided a number of medical amenities. Health officers in Gaza deny these allegations.
Critics accuse the military of recklessly endangering civilians and of decimating a well being sector already overwhelmed with war-wounded. Palestinians say Israeli troops forcibly evacuated houses close to Al-Shifa in downtown Gaza City and compelled lots of of residents to march south.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the highest navy spokesman, claimed Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group had established their most important northern headquarters contained in the hospital.
He described days of close-quarters preventing and blamed Hamas for the destruction, saying some fighters had barricaded themselves inside hospital wards whereas others launched mortar rounds on the compound.
He stated the troops had arrested some 900 suspected members throughout the raid and seized over $3 million in several currencies, in addition to weapons.
Total destruction
He denied that any civilians had been harmed by Israeli forces, saying the military had evacuated greater than 200 of the estimated 300 to 350 sufferers and delivered meals, water and medical provides to the remainder, the navy claimed.
Mohammed Mahdi, who was amongst lots of of Palestinians who returned to the realm, described a scene of “total destruction.” He stated a number of buildings had been burned down and that he had counted six our bodies within the space, together with two within the hospital courtyard.
Video footage circulating on-line confirmed closely broken and charred buildings, mounds of filth that had been churned up by bulldozers and sufferers on stretchers in darkened corridors.
Another resident, Yahia Abu Auf, stated military bulldozers had even plowed up a makeshift cemetery in Al-Shifa’s courtyard.
“The situation is indescribable,” he said. “The occupation destroyed all sense of life right here.”
At least 21 sufferers have died for the reason that raid started, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted late Sunday on X, previously Twitter.
He stated over 100 sufferers have been nonetheless contained in the compound, together with 4 youngsters and 28 essential sufferers. He additionally stated there have been no diapers, urine luggage or water to scrub wounds, and that many sufferers suffered from contaminated wounds and dehydration.
The navy had beforehand raided Al-Shifa in November, after saying Hamas maintained an elaborate command and management heart inside and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel operating beneath the hospital that led to some rooms, in addition to weapons it stated it had confiscated from inside medical buildings, however nothing on the size of what it had alleged previous to that raid.
The struggle was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion into southern Israel that killed round 1,160 folks, principally civilians, and taking round 250 folks hostage.
Israel responded with a brutal air, land and sea offensive that has killed not less than 32,782 Palestinians, principally ladies and kids, in response to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The struggle has displaced many of the territory’s inhabitants and pushed a 3rd of its residents to the brink of famine. Northern Gaza, the place Al-Shifa is positioned, has suffered huge destruction and has been largely remoted since October, resulting in widespread starvation.
Even as Israel has turned its focus to different elements of Gaza this yr, its troops have battled resistance within the north on a number of events and the 2 weeks of heavy preventing round Al-Shifa highlighted the endurance of the armed teams.
Netanyahu has vowed to maintain up the offensive till Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are freed. He says Israel will quickly develop floor operations to the southern metropolis of Rafah, the place some 1.4 million folks – greater than half of Gaza’s inhabitants – have sought refuge.
But he faces mounting strain from Israelis who blame him for the safety failures of Oct. 7 and from some households of the hostages who blame him for the failure to achieve a deal regardless of a number of weeks of talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Allied nations, together with most important backer the United States, have warned him towards an invasion of Rafah.
Hamas and different teams are nonetheless believed to be holding some 100 hostages and the stays of 30 others, after liberating many of the relaxation throughout a cease-fire final November in trade for the discharge of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Source: www.dailysabah.com